TAPF Articles

Women usually dominate the realm of interior design, but that doesn’t mean that guys can’t have their own well-designed and attractive homes. Decor for a male space, however, can be quite difficult; pastel-colored walls and fancy trinkets are seen more as emasculating than elegant. Florals and intricate patterns are out of the question, yet the space must somehow be made vibrant and interesting. As you can see, creativity is a crucial element when decorating a masculine room.

First, it’s important to implement his own style. A man’s style in home interiors is not as varied as the women’s but nevertheless, the differences in preferences and favorites bring a personal touch to a man’s home. Designs can be influenced by the love of sports, outdoors, arts, music, travel or architecture among others.

You should then consider what you’ve got to work with. Does the room have anything architecturally interesting like a sloped wall or inclined ceilings? Is there some visual drama like with a set of huge windows or a massive bookshelf? Look for the elements that are big and interesting so that you know what items you can accent and emphasize when you begin decorating.

A guy’s place is expectedly of a minimalist style. Understandably so, men can’t be bothered with details and too many things. Therefore, choosing the right items is vital to make up for the minimal presentation of decorations. One versatile decor are area rugs, great for any theme and color scheme. Usually though, men would go for a dark or neutral area rug with little or no design. Solid color and plain design work well with the masculine approach of the interiors.

What color should you select for the area rugs? Well, that would depend on the color scheme you have for the room. Men usually go for solid, dark or rich colors. A contrast to women’s favorites of pastels, prints, florals and light shades. It’s easy to brighten a darkly themed room with a rug with a splash of bright or rich shade. Real men aren’t afraid to use reds, oranges, purples and yellows, if only to accent neutral colors and to add more life to a space.

Masculine rooms, however, can also tend to be too masculine, making them seem sterile and unwelcoming. Curtains help solve this problem by breaking up the color and adding a softer texture to the room. A neutral color or a simple stripe pattern works best so that the curtain is distinct but doesn’t clash. An even better idea is to coordinate or match the color of your curtain to that of your rug to pull your walls and your floor together.

Wall art is the final detail that will round out your decor. You can choose any theme or item you want, so long as you steer clear of posters. Aside from looking tacky, they’re items that one would expect in a college dorm room and not a bachelor’s pad. If you feel, however, that you simply have to have posters, at least frame them before installing the posters on your walls. Memorabilia is a much better idea, especially if you’re passionate about something. Old sports jerseys, medals and figurines will give your room the look and feel of that ideal awesome pad.